News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Picton ARWEN Discharge
Case Number: 23-PFP-282
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PFP-282
SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Shot Less Lethal Firearm at Man in Prince Edward County
In the morning of July 23, 2023, the Ontario Provincial Police received a call informing them that a man, having fired a number of shots on his property from a rifle, had told the caller to contact the OPP, indicating he would be waiting for them outside. Officers were dispatched to the Picton residence and established a perimeter around the residence. When the man made his way on foot down this driveway towards the road, while holding a rifle, he was struck and felled by multiple Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) rounds. He was then bit in the neck by a police dog. The man was handcuffed, and then taken to hospital where he was assessed under the Mental Health Act. The dog bite wounds were superficial. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the discharge of the ARWEN.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES